New 2018 Audi A4 vs 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Buying a compact luxury sedan isn’t an easy process given how many viable options are available on the market at the moment. The German Big Three made up of the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series dominate, but even within those three options there are many considerations to take into account.

For starters, let’s just mention right off the bat that these are three very strong offerings with very little glaring faults. That said, there are significant differences in between each model, particularly when looking at the A4 and C-Class. As for the 3 Series, well it’s being completely redesigned sometime next year so it’s kind of in limbo at the moment.

That’s why we will turn our focus to the 2018 Audi A4 and how it stacks up to the 2018 C-Class.

A4 vs C-Class: It’s all in the drive

The 2018 Audi A4 was redesigned a few years ago and after the C-Class which means it’s the more modern of the two luxury compact sedans. Both feature impressive technology, but the A4 stands out in the refinement department with its Virtual Cockpit setup, a fully digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel that provides personalized information in a stunning layout.

One look inside the A4 is enough to convince many buyers. Audi has always been known for their craftsmanship and the A4 is further proof of how well they build cars in Ingolstadt. The C-Class has a very nice interior as well, but it doesn’t have the show stopping Virtual Cockpit and as such doesn’t stand out as much.

There’s also more storage space inside the A4 and many find the interior of the Audi less claustrophobic compared with the C-Class and its bulkier center console. Rear passengers will notice the difference most with more legroom awaiting them in the A4.

Under the hood, the 2018 A4 gets a standard 190-horsepower engine, but most will turn to the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine is not only more powerful than the C-Class’ 241-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, but it’s also an iron block versus an aluminum block in the Mercedes-Benz.

What does that mean concretely? Well in 2017 Consumer Reports ranked Audi’s reliability fourth overall while Mercedes-Benz was 17th. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

Finally, the 2018 Audi A4 is more affordable with a starting price of just over $41,000 while the C-Class starts at over $44,000. If you are value-oriented, the A4 stands out.